EXETER Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is one of the longest-running anti-nuclear groups in the country and has operated a peace shop as a not-for-profit information and resource centre for over 30 years.

Open five days a week and run by volunteers, it is a beacon of light in the face of government policies that promote war and the development of weapons of mass destruction.

The group, with currently over 100 members, convinced Exeter City Council in 2005 to sign the Mayors for Peace Declaration for a nuclear-free world.

It has a long history of success. In the 1980s it supported the women’s peace camp campaign against US cruise missiles at Greenham Common which resulted in the eventual removal of those weapons.

Secretary John Richardson Dawes recalls the excitement of the time: “Our public meetings used to fill Exeter’s largest meeting hall and we sent fleets of coaches to London demonstrations.

“We were part of the Establishment — we had a member who was a magistrate who wore her badge at work. Caroline Lucas was once active in our campaigns.”

?While campaigners may not gather in such large numbers these days, community events throughout the year make a big impact on the city and beyond.

The group is active at the local Respect Festival and Green Fair, and on Hiroshima Memorial Day this year it led community awareness-raising workshops with a quiz, a unique board game identifying the nine nuclear states and a peace poem that was performed with passion at a ceremony at the city’s Tree of Peace in partnership with sympathetic organisations such as the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

Mandy Barnes is a new member who joined earlier this year. A feminist activist, she sees a direct link between campaigning for peace and gender equality.

“I was too young to visit, but the Greenham women have definitely influenced my feminist perspective on society and, in turn, my activism.

“Their commitment, endurance, bravery and belief that they could make a difference through positive action has inspired me to believe that I too can change the world. I want to carry the banner of their legacy.”

Dave Wilson, another new member, has formed the Exeter Alternative Reading Group to discuss a range of progressive issues, including peace and disarmament.

Press officer Pete Stevenson is currently working with students to form a youth CND group which will result in a flashmob performance poem called The Anti-Trident Rap to be performed in the city centre.

Stevenson also organised a successful Music for Peace benefit event with 30 musicians who performed to an audience of over 100.

Another music event is to be held at Exeter City Football Club on November 7 featuring CND general secretary Kate Hudson.

Local MP Ben Bradshaw, the only Labour MP in the West Country, has been invited to attend but has refused, saying: “I don’t debate single issues. Anyway you are unilateralists and I am a multilateralist, so we won’t agree.”

Stevenson then urged Bradshaw to come along to explain his position.

“We are all multilateralists, of course — who isn’t?” Stevenson explains. “Why doesn’t Ben believe in debating with us?

Surely to spend £100 billion on replacing Trident is an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money at this time of so-called austerity and will potentially make the world a more dangerous place.

“Surely our government should take the first step towards a new phase of disarmament by cancelling the new weapons and invest in jobs, such as renewable energy, that will benefit us all? What a shame Ben is avoiding us.”

Chair of Exeter CND Tom Milburn is delighted with the blossoming of new activity.

“It’s great to welcome new members and the focus on young people gives us all hope for the future.”

Exeter CND is going from strength to strength, and with the election of Jeremy Corbyn as the new leader of the Labour Party they feel their position has been greatly strengthened regarding the parliamentary decision next year to scrap plans to renew Trident.

• Find Exeter CND and Exeter peace shop on Facebook or www.exetercnd.org.